About Our Organization

Headquartered in Chicago, the Foundation for Women’s Cancer was established in 1991 by the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) primarily to increase funding for gynecologic cancer research. Since that time, its mission has expanded to include raising awareness about the prevention and early detection of cancers unique to women, and educational programs and materials about the optimal treatment for women with a gynecologic cancer diagnosis.

The Foundation’s offers a robust research portfolio, primarily directed toward funding for young investigators. Since the first research grant was awarded in 1995, more than 140 research grants, training awards and prizes have been awarded.
Each year, the Foundations hosts free courses around the United States for women surviving gynecologic cancers. Since the first course was held in 2000, more than 65 courses have been held in 27 states.
The Foundation also has a comprehensive educational, (both video and printed) library aimed at helping both women diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer as well as those at risk information that is vital to managing their cancer and cancer risks. These resources can be downloaded from the Foundation’s website or ordered using a brochure order form available on the site.
To learn more about these programs and others, visit the Foundation’s new, award winning website — the only comprehensive national resource for information about all GYN cancers.
Women without Internet access can learn more and how to find a nearby gynecologic oncologist by calling the Foundation’s Information Hotline at 1-800-444-4441.
Every seven minutes, a woman hears a diagnosis of a reproductive cancer — cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar — touching more than 91,000 American women each year. Many are not diagnosed until the late stages of these diseases, and nearly a third will lose their battle.
These “below the belt” cancers receive a fraction of coverage and research funding as other cancers with similar incidence rates. But there is also good news: Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable through early vaccination and routine screening.
Foundation for Women’s Cancer